Stringing and Tension FAQ
Stringing is a pretty easy process. Basically mount the racquet on the machine, make sure it's level and clamped down right, set the tension, and start stringing the racquet. Selecting the right string and tension for someone who has played for years with a factory strung racquet is not easy, so I believe it's easier to break in a racquet with a higher tension than a lower one...it's not like I can take the racquet back to the machine and tighten things up.

I'll work with you on finding the right string, gauge, and tension for your game.

I'll add more questions and answers as they come up. If you have a question please email me.

What Tension?
Every racquet has a different tension range and every player responds to tension a little differently. Typically I max the tension on every racquet I do, I even go over on some racquets I have a lot of experience with.

Why do I like higher tensions? There's a couple of reasons:

• Strings move less, which gives a feeling of more control.
• The feel of the racquet lasts longer as the strings break in.
• My Customers like a tight string bed.
• Tight strings cause less vibration.

All of the above coupled with the fact that a racquet loses and continues to lose tension the second it's done. It will also lose about 10% or more the first time it hits a ball. Higher tensions normally put the racquets I service toward the middle of their range. So they have a good deal of pop with more of the feeling of control they started with.

Some people may argue that lower tensions give more power and just like control it's just a feeling to the player. Better mechanics give you more power. A heavier racquet may give you more power. A couple of pounds of tension is probably not going to give you more power. I believe there's a small window where a racquet has the right pop. You can break in a racquet with tight strings. You can't do much about dead strings.

What String Gauge?
For most of the strings I use there's a different gauge (thickness) of the string. Thinner string (17g. or 18g.) deliver more power into the ball, but don't last as long as thicker string. If the racquet can support it often do the main strings at 17g. and the crosses at 16g. To give some power and some support. If you are a really hard hitter then a thicker string might be more worthwhile.

Some people still don't believe me when I say thinner strings deliver more power. Go to your favorite Home Improvement Store and look at rope. Take the thickest rope you can find and bend it. Then take one of the thinner ones. Did they bend the same? Now imagine them with tension? The thinner string will give more and snap back while the thicker string will give and snap less.

What do I use? Why?
Over the years, I've tried different string and tension and have settled on both. Currently I'm using a Extreme 190 from Head with Technifibre 505 Bi-Phase Strings. I use 18g. for the mains and 17g. for the crosses. I pull them at about 43 lbs. I'm not a heavy hitter and use the higher string gauges to give me more power. I'm very surprised how long the 18g. string has lasted. It has frayed and probably dead, but so far hasn't broken.

A lot of people think they'll go through the strings pretty quick and I believe players like Jon Panno and Wayne Storch since they can really crush the ball, but for everyone else. It might give you a boost in performance, but if your going to spend a tournament thinking they'll break then that's not good either. For me, hitting the ball harder with the same accuracy, effort, and mechanics is a bonus is my book.

I focus on consistency with my racquets. I don't care how long they last, I want them to perform at a tournament and I want the feel of the racquet to be the same. I always record the string and tension for my racquets and the racquets of my customers. So I can reproduce that consistency next time. Ultimately you want to avoid making adjustments when hitting a ball. It's those adjustments that ruin your accuracy. Odds are we are not even aware we're making them.

One of my customers, Charlie, always has a tough time when he gets a racquet restrung. He's a pretty solid C/B player, but it's a skip fest when he's trying a freshly restrung racquet. It's just we get used to hitting the ball a certain way and expecting a certain result. Well the strings are losing tension with each hit, so we're constantly making adjustments to hit right. Why do you think Pros bring so many racquets to a tournament? For them adjustments to how they hit are not an option.

Why do Strings break?
Age old question, but there's a couple of reasons:

• Wear and Tear: Ever notice how the main and cross strings start to bite into each other? Well as you use a racquet the strings rub against each other and often break the individual filaments that make up the string. Break enough and it breaks. I've seen people use string savers and other crap, but in the end your strings are probably dead anyway.
• Broken Grommet Hole: If the plastic parts that hold your string are cracked all the way to the frame and it breaks around there, then most likely your string had a bad experience with the sharp frame of your racquet. Most often I can replace the individual grommet hole by using a grinder if there's a lot of broken holes then it's better to replace the grommet kit.
• Miss Hits: Some players generate a lot of Power on their swings and if they hit the ball outside of the sweet spot the strings can't deflect the energy properly and snap. I've seen it mostly at the top of the frame.
• Over Stretched: Had that happen years ago. I just restring my Megablast 185 with Powerkill string and within the first couple of hits it broke. I think it broke right at the Power Channel. So during my first couple of pulls, I must have pulled one too many times and over stretched the string. Some people believe in pre-stretching some done. I'd rather have a racquet ease into it's proper tension than destroy the strings characteristics by pre-stretching. I know some strings need to be stretched like Gut, but I never used it.

Thanks for Reading
Just send me an email and we can you back on the courts or improve your game with a string and feel you love.

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